Mar 29, 2024  
2019-2020 Catalog 
    
2019-2020 Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

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POLS 207 - American Political Participation

Credits: 5
Examines forms of American political participation. Focuses on such activities as elections, social movements, civil disobedience, political violence, as well as political mobilization activities via the internet. Also examines the causes and effects of nonparticipation. A central goal is to investigate the democratic theories that underpin American politics.

Prerequisite: Eligible for ENGL& 101  or instructor’s permission.

Satisfies Requirement: Social Science

Course Outcomes:
Students who successfully complete this class will be able to:

  1. Know and understand democracy as practiced in the American political system.
  2. Understand the power relationships that frame political participation as determined or influenced by diverse histories, genders, races, ethnicities, and religions.
  3. Know the major precursors to mass political participation.
  4. Specify the main methods for mass political participation (voting/electioneering, social movements, civil disobedience, and political violence).
  5. Understand the role mass political participation plays in shaping the behavior of the political system, and the outcomes of this system.

Program Outcomes
  1. Demonstrate knowledge of politics and government in the United States and/or across the world.


College-wide Outcomes
  • Critical Thinking - Critical thinking finds expression in all disciplines and everyday life. It is characterized by an ability to reflect upon thinking patterns, including the role of emotions on thoughts, and to rigorously assess the quality of thought through its work products. Critical thinkers routinely evaluate thinking processes and alter them, as necessary, to facilitate an improvement in their thinking and potentially foster certain dispositions or intellectual traits over time.
  • Responsibility - Responsibility encompasses those behaviors and dispositions necessary for students to be effective members of a community. This outcome is designed to help students recognize the value of a commitment to those responsibilities which will enable them to work successfully individually and with others.
  • Written Communication - Written Communication encompasses all the abilities necessary for effective expression of thoughts, feelings, and ideas in written form.



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